Enhanced performance of thermoelectric nanocomposites based on Cu12Sb4S13 tetrahedrite. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sun, Fu-Hua; Dong, Jinfeng; Tang, Huaichao; Shang, Peng-Peng; Zhuang, Hua-Lu; Hu, Haihua; Wu, Chao-Feng; Pan, Yu; Li, Jing-Feng
• Is Part Of: Nano energy. Volume 57(2019)
• Page Start: 835
• Page End: 841
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Nb2O5 nanoparticle -- Mechanical alloying -- Tetrahedrite -- Thermoelectric; Nanoscience -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanostructured materials -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Nanoscience; Nanostructured materials; Nanotechnology; Power resources -- Technological innovations; Periodicals; 621.042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nanoen.2018.12.090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2211-2855

Abstract

Abstract: Fine-grained and nanostructured composites have long been known for their superiority in enhancing thermoelectric performance; however, exploring these structures based on Cu12 Sb4 S13 tetrahedrites is difficult due to the methods of synthesis. This study reports Nb2 O5 nanoparticles-dispersed Cu11.5 Ni0.5 Sb4 S13- δ composites synthesized by a facile method combining mechanical alloying (MA) and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The enhanced electrical conductivity and the high power factor were obtained over the entire temperature ranges, likely derived from the fine-grained nanostructures through the repeated MA and SPS process. The uniformly distributed Nb2 O5 nanoparticles and nanopores indicate the effectiveness of reducing the lattice thermal conductivity, below 0.6 W m −1 K −1, due to strong low-mid frequency phonon scattering. A small quantity of Nb2 O5 addition (0.3 vol%) led to a high ZT ~1.2 at 723 K, which increased by ~50% compared to the matrix sample. These nanocomposites also possessed high average ZT, thermoelectric conversion efficiency, and fracture toughness. Graphical abstract: The "CNAS-NPs-CNAS hamburger" nanostructure is introduced into the Cu11.5 Ni0.5 Sb4 S13- δ tetrahedrite using a facile ball-milling process, which significantly improves the power factor and simultaneously reduces the thermal conductivity, and then leads to a state-of-the-art ZT ~1.2 at 723 K for thermoelectric nanocomposite. fx1 Highlights: Grain boundary-distributed Nb2 O5 nanoparticles are firstly introduced into Cu12 Sb4 S13 tetrahedrite. A state-of-the-art ZT value ~1.2 is achieved for CNAS-0.3NPs nanocomposite at 723 K. Nb2 O5 -dispersed nanocomposites present excellent thermoelectric conversion efficiency and fracture toughness.